The Township, among the powers granted under the First Class Township Code and the Library Code in furtherance of the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Township, is empowered to establish a library board to serve as the governing body of the Manheim Township Public Library. Accordingly, pursuant to the First Class Township Code[1] and the Library Code (24 Pa.C.S.A. § 9301 et seq.), the Board of Commissioners ("Commissioners") desires to establish a governing body that shall be called the Manheim Township Public Library Board of Directors ("Library Board").
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Manheim 4-27-2026 by Ord. No. 2026-07. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby created a Manheim Township Public Library Board of Directors, which shall consist of seven members, all of whom shall be residents of the Township of Manheim and two of whom shall be members of the Board of Commissioners. In the event a Commissioner's term terminates or expires, his or her Library Board membership shall terminate that same date and another Township Commissioner shall be appointed as a replacement. The term of office shall be for a period of three years, although members holding expired terms shall continue to serve until their successors have been appointed. The first appointees shall serve the following terms: two for one year, two for two years and three for three years; provided, however, that if the expiration of any term of a first appointee does not coincide with the end of the calendar year in which it falls, such term shall be extended to the end of such calendar year. No member of the Library Board shall receive compensation or salary for service as a Board member or officer. At the discretion of the Commissioners, Library Board members may be appointed to serve consecutive terms.
The Commissioners shall appoint all members to the Library Board and fill all vacancies by a majority vote of the Commissioners within 30 days of the vacancy. Members of the Commissioners are not disqualified from voting for themselves as appointees to the Library Board.
At its first meeting each calendar year, the Library Board shall reorganize by electing a President, Secretary and Treasurer from its membership and such other officers and agents as the Board may deem necessary.
In accordance with the budget schedule and procedures adopted by the Commissioners each year, the Library Board shall submit an annual budget to the Commissioners, for the ensuing fiscal year, for the review and approval by the Commissioners to enable the Commissioners to prepare its annual budget for the next succeeding fiscal year commencing the first Monday in January. This budget shall be prepared in concert with the Manheim Township Manager to establish continuity with the entire Township budgetary process.
All monies appropriated for the establishment and/or maintenance of the public library and all monies received from other sources for its use shall be under the exclusive control and shall be disbursed under the direction of the Library Board. Provided, however, for administrative, management and investment purposes, all funds received shall be maintained as part of the Township's general fund and all checks will be issued by the Township Treasurer at the direction of the Library Board, if in accordance with the approved budget or from funds received from sources other than the Township and specifically earmarked for specific library use. Earnings from investments shall be separately and individually computed and recorded and credited to the accounts from which the investment was purchased if such funds were not received from the Township appropriation but were from outside sources. No independent operating fund shall be established by the Library Board.
The Library Board, in conjunction with the Township Manager, shall develop a voucher system or other program for the payment of expenditures of the Manheim Township Public Library and shall approve such expenses on a monthly basis and forward them promptly to the Township Treasurer for payment. Expenditures shall comply with normal Township bidding requirements.
Annual reports shall be submitted as required by the Library Code.
All provisions of the Library Code are incorporated herein by reference thereto. Any amendments to the Library Code shall be automatically incorporated in the provisions of this chapter without requiring any amending action by the Commissioners, to the extent that such provisions are mandatory. In the event inconsistencies exist between the language of this chapter and the Library Code, as amended, such inconsistencies shall be resolved in favor of this article unless the provisions of the Library Code are mandatory.
The Library Board shall have the power to adopt bylaws for the conduct of its own business, not inconsistent with this chapter or the Library Code.
Annual appropriations to the library shall be made by the Commissioners at the same time as it adopts the annual Township budget and makes its other appropriations.
The Board of Library Directors shall be responsible for setting policy and operating the Manheim Township Public Library as set forth in the Library Code.
All contributions to the library shall be made to the Township for library use and, if specifically designated for a particular purpose, may only be used for such purpose.
Accurate minutes of all Library Board meetings shall be maintained, and copies shall be supplied to the Commissioners when completed. All meetings of the Library Board shall be public to the same extent that meetings of other public agencies are required to be public and must be similarly advertised.